Treaties
The Treaty Of Tordedillas - Excited by the gold Columbus had brought back from America, Ferdinand and Isabella, joint monarchs of
Spain, sought formal confirmation of their ownership of these new lands. They feared the interference of Portugal, which was the major
seafaring nation. At Spain’s urging the Pope drew a “Line of Demarcation” which seemed to be to favorable to Spain, they drew up this
treaty, and moved the line farther west.
Treaty of Paris, 1763 The Treaty of 1763 was signed by Great Britain, France, and Spain. Together with the Treaty of Hubertusburg it
ended the SEVEN YEARS WAR. France lost Canada to Britain, Cuba and the Philippines were restored to Spain, and India in effect
passed to Britain. From this treaty dated the colonial and maritime supremacy of Britain.
The Treaty Of Paris, 1783. When France and Spain were planning to achieve an agreement unfavorable to the United States, the American envoys negotiated a
separate treaty with Britain. The final agreement had six terms: 1) The U.S. was recognized as an independent nation by the major European powers, including Britain; 2)
Its western boundary was set at the Mississippi River; 3) Its southern boundary was set at 31 degrees north latitude (the northern boundary of Florida); 4) Britain retained
Canada but had to surrender Florida to Spain; 5) Private British creditors would be free to collect any debts owed by U.S. citizens; and 6) Congress was to recommend that
the states restore confiscated loyalist property.
Jays Treaty with Britain, 1794. John Jay negotiated a treaty with the British which attempted to settle conflicts at sea, as well as to curtail English agitation of their
Indian allies on the western borders. Actually it only settled a few of the issues, but was the best possible treaty under the circumstances. Jay's Treaty, concluded in 1794
between the U.S. and Britain to settle difficulties arising mainly out of violations of the Treaty of PARIS of 1783, and to regulate commerce and navigation. The treaty,
signed in England by John JAY and Lord GRENVILLE, provided for British evacuation of posts in the Old Northwest, unrestricted navigation of the Mississippi, and equal
privileges to American and British vessels in Great Britain and the East Indies. It placed severe restrictions on U.S. trade in the West Indies and did not allow indemnity for
Americans whose slaves were carried off by Britain's evacuating armies. Because the treaty failed to protect American seamen against impressment, or to secure
recognition of the principles of international maritime law, it aroused indignation in the U.S., and appropriations to put it into effect were delayed until 1796.
The Pinckney Treaty-- 1795- Thomas Pinckney was invited to the Spanish court to strengthen Madrid’s deteriorating position on the
American frontier. Thomas Pinckney, 1750-1828, was governor of South Carolina (1787-89) and as envoy to Spain negotiated the treaty
(1795) establishing U.S. commercial relations with Spain. Ratified by the Senate in 1796, the Spanish opened the Mississippi River to
American traffic, including the port city of New Orleans. It also opened up the 31st parallel as the northern boundary of Florida.
Treaty of Ghent, 1814- Recognized after the battle of New Orleans, which made Jackson a hero. The treaty reflected the lack of a clear
winner in the war. Status Quo Ante Bellum No territory changed hands. Border and trade disputes that had helped spark the war were
resolved later in talks.
The Rush-Bagot Treaty signed April 28 limits U.S. and British naval forces on the Great Lakes. U.S. Secretary of State Richard Rush,
37, has negotiated the treaty with British minister to Washington Sir Charles Bagot, 36.
Rush-Bagot Convention, 1817, agreement between the U.S. and Great Britain concerning the Canadian border. It consisted of an
exchange of notes by Acting U.S. Secy. of State Richard Rush and Charles Bagot, British minister in Washington, and provided for
disarmament of the U.S.-Canadian frontier. The convention set a precedent for the amicable settlement of Anglo-American difficulties
and inaugurated a policy of peace between the U.S. and Canada.
The Adams-Onis Treaty-- 1819- Spain had decided to sell the U.S. the remainder of Florida before they could take it anyway. The
Spanish surrendered all their claims to the territory and drew the boundary of Mexico all the way to the Pacific. The U.S. agreed in
exchange agreed to assume $5 million in debts owed to American merchants.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty-- 1842- Secretary of State Daniel Webster negotiated a treaty with Great Britain. Dealt with problems in a spirit of mutual concession
and forbearance. 1) Conflicting claims along the Canada-Maine boundary were compromised; 2) The British expressed regret for the destruction of the “Caroline”; 3) The
British promised to avoid “officious interference” in freeing slaves in cases such as that of the “Creole”; 4) Both countries agreed to cooperate in patrolling the African coast
to prevent slave smuggling. This compromise was also important in creating good U.S. , Britain relations.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2 ends the Mexican War that began in 1846. Mexico gives up
claims to lands north of the Rio Grande and cedes vast territories that include California to the United States in return for $15 million and
the assumption by Washington of U.S. claims against Mexico. Mexico loses 35 percent of her territory.
Venezuelan Boundary Dispute 1895, British Guiana Venezuela, Settled by US Boundary commission.
Treaty of Paris-- 1900- Secretary of State William Day led the American negotiating team, which secured Cuban independence, the ceding of the Philippines, Puerto
Rico and Guam to the U.S. and the payment of $20 million to Spain for the Philippines. Ratified Feb. 6A peace protocol is signed with Spain August 12, and the Treaty of
Paris formally ends the war December 10. Spain withdraws from Cuba and cedes Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States, which pays $20 million for
the Philippines (see 1946).
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty-- 1901- Between the U.S. and Britain to build jointly an isthmian canal. the U.S. was free to unilaterally construct, fortify and maintain a
canal that would be open to all ships. Hay-Pauncefote Treaties, negotiated in 1899 and 1901 by U.S. Secy. of State John HAY and Lord Pauncefote of Preston, British
ambassador to the U.S. The first treaty was amended (1900) by the U.S. Senate and was rejected by the British. The second treaty, superseding the CLAYTON-BULWER
TREATY, gave the U.S. the right to construct and fully control an Isthmian canal in CENTRAL AMERICA. It retained nominally the principle of neutrality under the sole
guarantee of the U.S. and provided that the canal be open to ships of all nations on equal terms, but it omitted a clause contained in the first draft forbidding fortifications.
Hay Herran Treaty: Hay-Herrán Treaty, 1903, aborted agreement between the U.S. and Colombia that concerned the prospective PANAMA CANAL. Signed by U.S.
Secy. of State John HAY and Colombian foreign minister Tomás Herrán, the treaty stipulated that the New Panama Canal Co. might sell its properties to the U.S.; that
Colombia lease to the U.S. a strip of land across the Isthmus of Panama; and that the U.S. pay Colombia $10 million and, after nine years, an annuity of $250,000. The
U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, but the Colombia rejected it.
Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty French engineer-promoter Philippe Jean Bunau-Varilla, 42, has made a deal with New York lawyer William Cromwell of Sullivan and
Cromwell, approached Cleveland industrialist Mark Hanna, and persuaded him to favor the route across Panama. Cromwell has made a $60,000 contribution to the
Republican party. The Senate consents to the treaty March 17, and the treaty gives $40 million to stockholders in the French canal company, many of whom are now U.S.
speculators, while stipulating that Colombia is to give up all rights to sue for any portion of the $40 million and give up all police powers in the contemplated canal zone.
Treaty of Portsmouth, 1905. Ended Russo-Japanese War. T Roosevelt Nobel Peace Prize.
Gentlemen’s Agreement, 1907. Japan agrees informally to stop immigrations to America
Root-Takahira Agreement 1908. Japan & USA agreed to respect each other’s possessions and The Open Door in China.
Arbitration Treaties--1913-1915- Wilson’s Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan continued the policies of Roosevelt and Taft to
promote arbitration of disputes in Latin America and elsewhere. Bryan negotiated about 30 such treaties.
Conciliation Treaties-- Secretary Bryan negotiated treaties with 29 nations under which they agreed to submit disputes to international
commissions for conciliation, not arbitration. They also included provisions for a cooling-off period, usually one year, before the nations
would resort to war. While the treaties probably had no practical effect, they illustrated the idealism of the administration.
Versailles Treaty-- 1919- In drafting the treaty Wilson achieved some of the goals in the Fourteen Points, failed to secure freedom of the
seas, free trade, reduction of armaments, or the return of Russia to the society of free nations. 1) The League of Nations was formed,
wanted to protect “territorial integrity” and “political independence”;2) Germany was held responsible for causing the war;3) German
colonies were made mandates of the League of Nations. Germans were told to sign it “or else”.
Washington Naval Conference, 1922. Freeze of Building by Pacific Powers.
Kellogg Briand Pact Kellogg-Briand Pact, or Pact of Paris, agreement reached in 1928 by 15 nations (and eventually ratified by 62 nations) who agreed to settle all
conflicts by peaceful means and who renounced war as an instrument of national policy. U.S. Secy. of State Frank Billings Kellogg and French Foreign Minister Aristide
BRIAND were its sponsors. Its effectiveness was vitiated by its failure to provide measures of enforcement. Ultimately, the pact proved to be meaningless, especially as
nations adopted the practice of waging undeclared wars.
The Atlantic Charter-- 1941- August 9 Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, the British prime minister, met for the first time on a British battleship off Newfoundland.
They issued the Charter which described a postwar world based on self-determination for all nations. It also endorsed the principles of freedom of speech and religion and
freedom from want and fear, which Roosevelt had proposed as the Four Freedoms earlier that year.
NATO-- 1949- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Signed by the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, and Canada. They pledged that an attack against one would be
considered an attack against all. Greece and Turkey joined the alliance in 1952 and West Germany in 1954. The Soviets formed the
Warsaw Treaty Organization in 1955 to counteract NATO.
Nuclear Test Ban-- 1963 - All nations except France and China banned atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)-- 1972 - signed to reduce missiles.
Panama Canal Treaties– 1977 - control of canal back to Panama 1999
SALT II—1979 - New limits on weapons proposed by Carter. It never passed.
START (for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)—1991 - A bilateral treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on the
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. The treaty was signed on 31 July 1991 and entered into force on 5 December 1994. The treaty was signed by the
United States and the USSR, that barred its signatories from deploying more than 6,000 nuclear warheads atop a total of 1,600 ICBMs, submarine -launched ballistic
missiles, and bombers. START negotiated the largest and most complex arms control treaty in history, and its final implementation in late 2001 resulted in the removal of
about 80 percent of all strategic nuclear weapons then in existence. Proposed by United States President Ronald Reagan, it was renamed START I after negotiations
began on the second START treaty, which became START II. The treaty expired 5 December 2009, but currently remains in force indefinitely pending agreement on a
successor, since Russia and the United States failed to reach agreement on a new pact until the deadline.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—1994 - unimpeded commerce among Canada, US, and Mexico